Dalai Lama to make Glastonbury appearance

Beijing on Friday hit out at the organisers of Britain's Glastonbury music festival for inviting the Dalai Lama, saying they were offering him a platform for what China calls his "separatist activities."

26.06.2015

(AFP) Beijing on Friday hit out at the organisers of Britain's Glastonbury
music festival for inviting the Dalai Lama, saying they were offering
him a platform for what China calls his "separatist activities."

The Tibetan spiritual leader will address revellers at the festival
with a message of "compassion, non-violence and the oneness of
humanity," his office said Thursday.

Emily Eavis, organiser of the five-day gathering, said in a
statement: "We're honoured to welcome the Dalai Lama to Glastonbury
2015."

China, which accuses the Tibetan spiritual leader and non-violence
advocate of using "spiritual terrorism" to seek independence for the
territory, denounced the invitation.

"We oppose any organisation using any means to offer a platform for
the Dalai Lama to conduct anti-China separatist activities," foreign
ministry spokesman Lu Kang said when asked about the festival invitation
at a regular briefing.

Around 135,000 paying ticketholders are expected to attend the
five-day Glastonbury gathering, which began in 1970 and is one of the
world's biggest music festivals.

The Tibetan spiritual leader will also speak to supporters in the
British army base town of Aldershot, at the invitation of the Buddhist
Community Centre UK (BCCUK).

The Dalai Lama says he supports "meaningful autonomy" for Tibet
rather than outright independence, but Beijing often denounces officials
who meet him.

British Prime Minister David Cameron's meeting with the spiritual leader in 2012 led to a diplomatic backlash from Beijing.

The 14th Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has lived in exile in India ever since.

Many Tibetans accuse China of religious and cultural repression.
Beijing denies such claims and says its has bought development to the
region.

More than 140 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009
in protest at Beijing's rule, according to overseas media. Most of them
have died.